It's not just about books anymore. Forget the idea of the musty old library with a thousand copies of old novels and only one, highly-worn copy of the latest bestseller.
The of the Bucks County Public Library system is modernized, digitized, and optimized to bring the widest variety of Bensalem residents into the building.
“The community is so diverse, and therefore, we need to be diverse,” Pat Stephenson, librarian and youth services assistant, told Bensalem Patch. Stephenson wants the full services of the library be brought to the public's attention.
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And those services are vast. Not only can residents borrow physical media from any of the Bucks County branches, they can also have that media shipped free-of-charge to the Bensalem branch to be placed on hold for them. This includes DVDs, video games, audiobooks, CDs, and of course, books.
For those wanting to stay home and still take advantage of the library's resources, the library provides a plethora of services such as audiobook downloads that are compatible with most MP3 players, completely free online education courses, e-mail book clubs, and online language learning software.
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Residents who choose to visit the library can also participate in once-a-month exercises classes that include aerobic-focused dance-based elements inspired by ZUMBA.
“These classes are wildly popular,” explained Stephenson. “We've had to limit them from once-a-week to once-a-month because the room typically used for the classes is quite booked. We're hoping that, once the room frees up, we can offer the classes on a more-frequent basis.”
There are also various programs for children and teenagers, such as volunteering programs and literacy-based challenges. The Bensalem branch also supports community events geared toward increasing literacy in the area, such as the Rita's “Rita's of Cool University Literacy Day,” that will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24.
It's important for the library to expand its reach. On why the Bensalem library is involved in such a wide variety of community activities, digital media, and interlibrary loan, Stephenson explained: “We need to sustain the future of the library system. The only way to do that is to join the e-revolution!”
“It's important that residents know our programs are all completely free,” Stephenson said. “Including our wi-fi!”
Residents of Bensalem wishing to take advantage of all the library has to offer can find resources online or contact the library directly at (215) 638-2030.